Briana, great idea and congrats on all your hard work. Have you received the 501(c)(3) yet for the nonprofit? When you do, I think a good way to do a fundraiser like this is through Zeffy. It's a nonprofit platform and you can create a store that will sell each of the items - a brick, plaque, etc. I like it because they do not take any fees. If the shelter itself can receive monetary donations, you could also do a simple Google form until you are able to sign-up for a nonprofit account. As far as marketing, obviously flyers in the shelter, library, rec center, does your city have a newsletter they could put it in? Nextdoor, Facebook... You might also be able to get local scout troops to help. This sounds like it could be a good Eagle Scout project.
------------------------------
Sarah Fuqua
Director
The Bobo Fund
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 02-27-2026 07:57 AM
From: Briana Bardier
Subject: Rainbow Bridge Menorial Park as a fundraiser
Hello.
I am the Animal control officer for my small town in the quiet corner of CT, and I am still having budget issues since my last post- gotta love politics and tight wallets. So to overcome certain hurdles, I am forming a non profit for the animal shelter, taking numerous cat courses about community cat programs such as barn cat, working cat, and business cats., i will be holding education workshops for dog and cat owners, and getting involved in every department that I can. I am trying to become more a resource and offer services to the town instead of just enforcement, and I am hoping to unify the first responders a little more with training opportunites because I come from both fields- EMS and animal welfare.
I am looking for suggestions on how to market and operate a Rainbow Bridge Memorial Park fundraiser with plaques,memorials, bricks and planks for purchase. I am very new to capital campaigns and fundraising so any advice would be appreciated. The Rec dept approached me with the idea and I love it, just not sure how to start it. Thanks
#FundraisingandDevelopment
------------------------------
Briana Bardier
Animal Control Officer, Dept Head
Thompson Animal Control
CT
------------------------------